Tabulating card fabricating mechanism



1Fi1edgan. 2:5,` 1947 s sheets-sheet 1 Sept 5,' 1950 R. H. HOLMWOOD ETAL2,521,370

TABULATING CARD FABRICATING MECHANISM 42 14. J0 k ,50 l,/4 44 f AGENTSept. 5, 1950 R. H. HoLMwooD ErAL 2,521,370

TABULATING CARD FABRICATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23,1947 INVENTOR sept. 5, 195o R. H. HoLMwooD ETAL 2,521,370

TABULATING CARD FABRICATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 23, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet5 Patente Sept. 5, 195i?.

TABULATIN G CARD FABRICATIN G MECHANISM Richard H. Holmwood, Binghamton,and Kenneth E. Anderson, Johnson City, N. Y., assignors to InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application January 23, 1947, Serial No. 723,742

8 Claims. (Cl. 164-48) This invention relates to improvements intabulating card printing machines such as that described in U. S. PatentNo. 2,181,935.

Particularly, the presentinvention is concerned with an improved cornerclipping mechanism to be used in such a machine.

The production of tabulating cards for use in electrical accountingmachines, and the like, requires certain precise refinements.requirements may be included the so-called corner cut card, a tabulatingcard with one or more of its corners cut off. Such a card is useful notonly for visually indicating a le classification, but also is used tocontrol certain operations in a record machine, the missing corner beingsensed by special electrical devices.

Certain disadvantages have accrued in existing corner cuttingmechanisms, some of these being aggravated by the increased speeds whichproduction economy demands of machines such as that shown in U. S.Patent No. 2,181,935. Chief among these is non-uniformity of "cornercut, card jams, and loss of production in machine stopskilled mechanicshave always been associated with corner 'cutting mechanisms, it beingnot infrequent to spend three hours adjusting the mechanism on onemachine when a corner cutting mechanism is replaced. At the highproduction rate of current card printing machines, a three hour loss ofproduction upon one machine represents 150,000 cards.

Previous corner cutting mechanisms also have been inflexible in thatonly one corner of a card could be cut at a time, and in changing themechanism from a left hand cut to a right hand cut a skilled mechanicfrequently is required.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improvedcorner clipping mechanism requiring no adjustments.

Another object is to provide a corner clipping mechanism wherein thecard is positively positioned by one of the shearing elements so thatuniformity of cuts is assured.

A further object is to provide a corner clipping mechanism in which morethan one corner of a card may be clipped at a time.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a corner clippingmechanism having a simple manual control whereby the mechanism may beregulated to cut either, both, or neither of the corners of the leadingedge of a card.

A still further object is to provide a mechanism wherein the shearingdevices are readily replaceable by unskilled personnel.

Among Such Still another object is to provide electrical interlocking ina corner cutting mechanism in association with a card jam release,whereby operation is stopped in the event of a card jam at thel sametime providing clearance for the jammed mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims andA contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation View of the corner,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a partial view in section through onev of the shearing devicesapproximately along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the mechanism adapted to a tabulating cardprinting machine.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the shearing elements.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of an anti-jamming mechanism.

With reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3. and 4, a lower casting I I is adaptedto receive each of two upper castings I2 and I3 by means of locatingpins Il, each upper casting having corresponding locating holes. A -boltI5 provides a fastening device for clamping each upper casting to thelower casting II. The castings I2 and I3 are mirror images of eachother, each being comprised of an equal number of similar parts to forma complete shearing unit, and each being dependent for operation andcontrol upon the mechanism of the lower casting I I.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, each upper casting I2 and I3 is recessedwith suitable locating holes I6 to match corresponding locating pins Ilin the lower casting II. A hole I'I is also provided in each uppercasting through which a bolt I5 bears to clamp the upper castings I2 andIl to the lower casting. Any upper casting can bev replaced merely byloosening the bolt I5 and removing the upper casting from the lowercast-- ing locating pins I5.

The top of each upper casting is bored to contain a sleeve bearing I8which is secured to the casting by two screws I9. A rod 20 rides in the`v bearing I8, the lower end of the rod terminating in an invertedY-shaped block 2 I. Each block 2l is turned to have its face at apredetermined angle (30 degrees) with respect to the vertical plane ofFig. 1. the faces of the two blocks being turned toward each other. Apin 22 is fitted 2Ij the pins extending on either side and having axesparallel with the vertical plane of Fig. 1.

In each upper casting I2 or I3 is located a. stud 23 upon whichpivotally is mounted a bell crank 24 retained by a washer 25 and a nut26 fastened to the end of the stud. On one arm of the bell crank 24 isfixed a cam follower in the form of a roller 21. A bearing surface 28 isprovided extending over a portion of the same arm. On the other arm ofthe bell crank 24 is a yoke 29 which is secured pivotally to the block 2I the pin 22 passing through each arm of the yoke. A counterclockwiserotation of the bell crank 24 therefore will cause the block 2I to bemoved downwards. A spring 36 mounted in each upper casting I2 or I3bears against the bell crank 24 to urge it constantly downwards, thetension in the spring 30 being varied by a screw 31 which also acts as aretainer.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a. shearing knife 32 is fastened rigidly to therear face of the block 2I by three screws 33. Also fastened to eachupper casting are two rods 34 upon which a second shearing knife 35floats. The knife 35 is pressed against the knife 32 by a spring 36mounted to the upper casting by two screws 31. The cutting edge 32a ofknife 32 and the cutting edge 35a of the knife 35, together, form ashearing couple so that a portion of a card 38, placed as shown in Fig.5, will be sheared olf when the block 2| is moved upwards sliding theknives 32 and 35 over each other. The block 2I is provided with a groove39 in which a tongue 40 in the knife 35 rides (see Fig. 4). The tongue40 serves to provide a remote fulcrum, about which the knife 35 tends tobe turned when the knives close upon a card to be sheared, so that thespring 36 has a substantial lever arm through which it can exert acounter moment. Thereby the tendency for the knives to separate againstthe urging'of the spring 36 due to the resistance of the material beingsheared is reduced. An oil pad 4I contained in a recess in the knife 35provides for lubrication of the knives.

In the lower casting II are located the elements which operate andcontrol the shearing devices in the upper castings, together with othercon-trolling mechanism.

Along one side of the casting II is mounted a chain of gears 42, 43, 46,and 41. Gears 42 and 43 are mounted freely on the studs 44 and 45,respectively, while gears 46 and 41 are fixed, respectively, to theshafts 48 and 49, each of which is journalled in the casting II. Gear 42rotates counterclockwise (see Fig. 4) and meshes with gear 46 to driveit, and its shaft 48, clockwise. Fixed tov the shaft 48 are two singlelobed cams 50, each positioned similarly on the shaft, arranged andspaced to coact with the rollers 21 of the bell cranks 24, respectively,in the upper castings I2 and I3 when they are attached to the lowercasting II. Consequently, when the shaft 48 is rotated, the cams 50rotate and operate the bell cranksv 24, which, upon being actuated,cause the blocks 2I to be moved' upwards and the shearing knives 32 and35 to be operated.

The gear 46 engages and rotates the idler gear 43 in a counterclockwisedirection so that the gear 41, vwhich meshes with gear 43, 'and itsshaft.

49 are rotated clockwise. At the center of the shaft 49 is xed a singlelobed cam 5I which is arranged to actuate one arm of a bell crank 52,v

the other arm' of which terminates in a pad block 53. 'Ihe bell crank 52is pivotally mounted on a shaft 54, journalled in an extension ofcasting II, and is constantly urged to contact the cam 5I by a spring55. As the shaft 49 rotates, the block 53 is constantly agitated.

Located above the block 53 is an inverted U- shaped plate 56 hinged atthe ends of its arms on pins 51 which are secured to projections of thecasting I I. The top of plate 56, as shown in Fig. 1, is provided withtwo ears 58 having bent out portions 15 (see Fig. 8) which areresiliently engaged and retained normally by a pair of coacting latches59 attached to the casting II. Attached to the back side of the plate 56is an arcuate member 60 which rests against the operating plunger of amicroswitch 6I in such a way that when the plate 56 is unlatched andhinged about its pins 51, the arcuate member 60 cams the plunger of theswitch-6| to close its contacts. As pressure is applied to the plate 56,it unlatches and pivots (clockwise as seen in Fig. 4)

about the pins 51, thereby being displaced inwardly from its normallatched position, the arcuate member maintaining the contacts of theswitch 6I in a closed position until the plate 56 is returned to itsnormal latched position.

vTo the rear of each pair of shearing knives 32 and 35 is the mouth of asuction tube 62 leading to a common suction outlet 63 which is connectedwith a suction pump (not shown) for removing clippings from the shearingknives after each operation.

Above shaft 48 (see Fig. 4) is located another shaft 64 journalled in,and extending through, one side of the casting II. Two cams 65 are fixedto the shaft 64 and spaced to coact, respectively, with the surfaces 28of the bell cranks 24 of the upper castings I2 and I3. When the shaft 64is turned, the cams 65 engage the surfaces 28 thereby rotating the bellcranks 24 so that the blocks 2I are moved and retained up- Wards torender the shearing knives 32 and 35 inoperative since the cams 50 canno longer engage the rollers 21. The two cams 65 are positioned sixtydegrees from each other on the shaft 64 so that as it is rotated(clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3) first one of the shearing couples, thenboth, then the other, and finally neither are rendered inoperative. Acrank 66 with a handle 61 including a retractable detent 68, coacting tolock with index holes 69a, 69h, 69e, 69d in a semicircular plate 10, isattached to the protruding end of shaft 64, thereby providing a manualcontrol for rendering the shearing devices operative or inoperative in apredetermined manner, as related above.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be understood that when a cardis presented to the mechanism (see Fig. 3), assuming feed to be into theface of the drawing of Fig. 1, when the handle 61 locates its detent 68in the hole 69a, the right hand corner of the leading edge of a cardwill be cut as the shaft 48 rotates. When detent 68 is in hole 69b,neither corner of the leading edge of the card will be cut; when detent68 is in hole -69e, the left hand corner will be cut; and when detent 68is in hole 69d, both corners will be cut.

In Fig'. 6, the present invention is'shown applied to a card printingmachine such as described in the reference patent. The lower castll whenthey are released from the carrier drum J4! by the clips |44 (fordetailed description of the manner of release see U. S. Patent No.2,181,935), the face of the subject mechanism viewed in Fig. 1 abuttingthe hoppers of the stacking table 230 (only partially shown in Fig.Power is supplied to' the corner cutting mechanism by the gear 4|8,which drives the carrier drum |40, through the gearsin, 13, '|4, and 42.The lgearing vis chosen with suitable ratlos so that the shaft 48 makesone complete revolution for each incremental advance of the carrier drum|40 equivalent to the distance between two consecutive clips |44,whereby the shearing knives 32 and 35 operate each time a cardl 38 ispresented to the corner clipping mechanism.

In previous corner clipping devices, particularly that shown in thereference patent, nonuniformity of cuts was caused at high speedoperation due to the clips |44 failing to positively position each cardto the shearing devices. In the present device, vthe clips |44 releasethe card as it is delivered to the shearing devices, and the card isforced under its own momentum against a pair of stops 35h formed byprojections on the shearing knives 35 (see Fig. '7), thereby insuringuniformity of corner cut. The ears 58 on the plate 56 and the faces ofthe latches 59 act as guides, after each card strikes the stops 35h, sothat the card falls downwards onto a hopper on the stacking table 230 inproper alignment with plate 56, under which the block 53 constantlyagitates the cards into alignment to form a uniform stack in a hopper.

y In the event of a jammed card being thrust by the carrier drum |40into the corner cutting mechanism, the hinged plate 56 normally bearsthe thrust. Any appreciable amount of pressure against plate 56 causesit to unlatch and to be pivoted to operate the microswitch to close itscontacts. These contacts may be wired in parallel with the jam detector(shown in the circuit diagram of the U. S. Patent No. 2,181,935) so thatthe card printing machine will be stopped. .Plate 56 is capable ofpivoting approximately ninety degrees so that the path of the jammedcard may be free as the carrier drum |40 continues to move under inertiato lessen probability of machine damage. Y l

Whenever the shearing devices become inoperative through wear or damage,either or both can be easily and quickly removed and replaced by simplyremoving the clamping bolt I5, taking out the old unit, inserting a newunit, and returning the bolt l5 to its normal position. No adjustmentsare required, and the work can be perfumed by the machine operator in afew minutes.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features bodiment, it will be understood that variousomissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of thedevice illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is theintention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is: K l l. In combination with a card producing machinefrom which cards are fed edgewise, a

mechanism for clipping cards comprising a member against which cards arefed, a plurality of pairs of shearing elements associated with the lsaidmember for cutting portions from a card,

means for actuating the said elements each time a card is fed to thesaid member, and controlling means selectively to render any one of thesaid shearing elements inoperative.

2. In combination with a card producing mav chine from which cards arefed edgewise, a card 3. In a record card printing machine fromA whichcards are fed edgewise, a card clipping mechanism comprising a fixedplate against which a card is fed, shearing devices disposed upon thesaid plate and arranged to engage the said card at predeterminedlocations and in predetermined positions, means for actuating the saiddevices once for each card delivered, and

- of the invention as applied to a. preferred emmeans for renderingselectively the shearing de.

vices operative. y

4. In combination with a.card producing machine from which cards arefeciA edgewise, a mechanism for clipping portions from cards comprisinga semi flxed plate 'against' which a card is fed, resilient means forretaining the said plate normally xed, one o r 'more pairs of shearingYment's each timea card -s fed Ato the said plate,

and means associated with the said plate for stoppinlg the said machinewhen the plate is displaced from its normal position.

5. In combination with a card producing machine from which cards are fededgewise, a card clipping mechanism comprising a pivoted plate againstwhich a card isfed, shearing means associated with the said plate toengage a portion of a card, actuating means for the said shearing meansoperable each time a card is fed from the said machine, latching meansnormally retaining the said member'in a predetermined position toprovide a card-stop, the said latching means being yieldable to-releasethe said 'plate to turn about its pivot, and means coacting with thesaid plate for stopping the said machine when the plate is turned aboutits pivot.

6. In combination with a card producing machine from which rectangularcards are fed edgewise, a mechanism forcutting corners from the leadingedge of a card comprising a pair of rendering one of the said pairs ofshearing elev vments inoperative while retaining the other of said pairsoperative.

7. In a mechanism forcutting corners from 7 cama/means for positionablysupporting a card to present an edge to be cut, a shearing unit havinsga iixed knife, a coacting movable knife, and actuating means for themovable knife; means for detachably fastening the said shearing unitupon the said supporting means in registration with two intersectingedges of a card at its supported position, operating means on the saidsupporting means for engaging the said actuating means, and means on thesaid supporting means for disengaging the said operating means from thesaid actuating means.

8. In combination with a shearing couple comprising a relatively fixedknife and a movable knife, means for` positioning the knives in mutualContact, actuating means for sliding the movable knife over the fixedknife in shearing relationship, a tongue on the said fixed knife forminga pivot 8 about which the said knives tend to separate under the forceof shearing. and resilient means bearing upon the said fixed knife at apoint re mote from the said pivot for providing a mechanical advantageto prevent separation of the 5 said knives.

RICHARD H. HOL'MWOOD. KENNETH E. ANDERSON.

lo REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 530,780 KingsburyDec. 11, 1894 1,937,576 Kast et al. Dec. 5, 1933 2,327,646 HutchinsonAug. 24, 1943

